Fashion & Film: Coco Before Chanel
I read a review somewhere for Coco Before Chanel and was saddened by the negativity. It’s critique was that there is no point in making a biopic about someone to whom nothing ever happened. This is how it’s not the average biopic.
Obviously the film concentrates on Chanel’s life before she was a successful designer. Before she revolutionized women’s fashion by doing away with the corset. Before she released her own perfume that was “All about scent and nothing about the bottle.” Before she popularized the “Chanel suit”, a knee length skirt and collarless jacket combo trimmed with black. Before she invented the little black dress. Before she used the soft, comfortable jersey fabric. Before she created a new idea of elegance. Which, in my opinion, is the only real elegance. And unless you know all these things I can see where the film might not be as engaging as it was to me.
For someone whom deeply admires Chanel for all the ways in which she shaped the modern woman it was fascinating to see a movie about Chanel the woman, not Chanel the designer.
Audrey Tautou, one of my absolute favorites, wasn’t an actress playing dress up for an audience. She was Chanel. She was a young woman disillusioned with the painful and opulent style of her day. She was a woman with an independent, inspired, and determined spirit. All the experiences that influenced her career, those special moments of realization and inspiration, are spread subtly throughout the film. They are allusions nestled softly in the flow of the story. She has a simple, ankle-length black dress made for a night of dancing - the little black dress! She steals away one of her lover’s shirts because the fabric is so comfortable and forgiving - jersey fabric!
And there’s the love story between her and Boy Chapel. They never married but he was the first figure in her life to believe in her. When she had the chance to marry a rich Etienne Balsan and live a comfortable life, forever provided for, Chapel convinces her that she is destined for far greater things. Don’t settle girls! There is a Boy Chapel somewhere out there, ready to love and support you along the way to blossoming into the amazing woman you are meant to be.
Perhaps, I’m a little biased, considering Chanel is one of my idols. The set is perfect. The cinematography is beautiful. The costumes are just as much part of the story as the acting. In short, it is a film I highly recommend for every woman. We can’t all be Coco but with a little bit of inspiration we can be elegant, confident, and successful Chanel versions of ourselves.
(Its only showing in select theaters but for the trailers and some great clips go here. And if you haven’t seen the N°5 short film starring Tautou you must go here. Its so magnificent.)
